REBORN AS THE CEO’s DIVA

Trash takes itself out.

“Auditions for Crimson Throne are tomorrow, 9:am, at my building. Her face lit up, this was her dream role. The role Mia had stolen from her using her audition tape.

Mia scoffed. “She can’t even stand straight, she’s drunk, Mr Cole. She’s always drin…”

“She’s not drunk, she’s furious and there’s clearly a difference.” Ethan’s voice went extremely cold.

He took out a black card from his shirt pocket. No name was written on it, just a number.

But Zoey knew, infact everyone in Hollywood knew. That number meant he was watching you personally.

“Sign with me, Zoey.” He said it almost like an order and a threat. “Or you keep letting them kill you slowly.”

In her last life, she died for their lies. She trusted them with everything in her. But this life, she went completely different and took the card from him. The edges of the card bit into her palm. It felt like a sharp blade to her breakthrough, it felt so promising.

“I’ll be there at 9.” She said. “But I don’t sign anything until after my first win.”

His lips curved into a fake smile. “Good, I don’t like easy women to begin with.” And he left the room. The room went quiet for almost 5 seconds before Mia broke the silence. She screamed on top of her lungs, “you stupid, stupid girl! Do you know who that is? Don’t you know he destroys girls like you?” Then Zoey looked at Adrian, the man who had taught her how to die.

She smiled again, wider and colder. “No, Mia,” she whispered. “He destroys people like you.”

••••

Silver screen media’s office smelled like lies and cheap air freshener. Past life, the smell made Sophia sick to the stomach. She’d sit in the lobby for hours, her script in her lap and waiting for a manager who was “in a meeting” with Adrian.

This life, Zoey walked past the receptionist without slowing down a bit. Her heels clicked on the tiles so sharp that it made loud noise. She wore a black palazzo pants, a silk tank top and a blazer.

“Miss Sophia!, you have a call sheet at 11..”

“It’s Zoey.” She didn’t stop in her tracks. “And I quit.” She said so calmly.

The receptionist choked on her spit. “You..you can’t just quit. You have a contract with..”

Zoey pulled out Adrian’s black card from her blazer, the one with Ethan Cole’s private number. She held it up to her face like a crucifix to a vampire.

“Of course, I do have a contract. Just not with trash.”

The office doors to Adrian’s “executive suite” flew open before she even touched them. It was as though he had been waiting for her.

He was, of course he was waiting for her. Mia stood behind him with her arms crossed and the smirk she had on her face became so obvious.

“Soph..” Adrian caught himself. “Zoey. Cute rebrand though, I didn’t know corpses could do PR.” Zoey smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Adrian. Are you still letting your assistant speak for you?” OMG, I thought you fired her after she slept her way to..”

“Watch your mouth.” His voice dropped. The office went completely silent and the three interns opposite them pretended to mind their businesses and started typing very hard.

Mia stepped forward. “You think Cole Entertainment wants you? You’re a good for nothing, damaged goods. The blogs still have…”

“Of course, the blogs have Sophia’s nudes. Zoey pulled out her phone from her bag, unlocked it and held up a screenshot. “I have the texts where you told Adrian to leak them. It is dated and with your number, Mia.”

Mia’s face went white. “You’re bluffing.”

“Am I?” Zoey tilted the phone. “I woke up yesterday and remembered everything, baby. Including your iCloud password. Sophia was stupid, I’m clearly not.”

Adrian moved very fast to her and tried to grab the phone. But it was too late because Zoey was already moving, she sidestepped and let his drive carry him into his own desk. His hip hit the corner of his desk so hard and grunted in pain.

“Touch me again.” She said softly, “and I’ll make sure Cole Entertainment buys this whole building just to fire you on live Tv. Just like you did to Sophia.”

She dropped a printed letter on his desk.

I, Sophia Taylor, terminate my contract with silver screen media effective immediately due to breach of clause 7B: moral degradation and social pressure. Signed, Zoey Walker.

“Clause 7B?” Adrian laughed.

“We wrote that. It doesn’t even…”

“Apply to you? Check your email.” Zoey turned to leave. “I already sent the screenshots to the board. And to New York Times. And USA TODAY co. Sophia wanted to protect you but best believe Zoey wants to watch you burn.